Capital gains tax- property in London

Dear all,DP and I have lived in Europe for the past year and a half. We currently rent out our flat in SW London. However, we are moving back to London in 6 months. I am due a baby in four weeks so our flat will be quite small and we have already decided we want to sell and buy something bigger in the countryside. In an ideal world, we would sell the flat in London and rent a much cheaper place in the area we want to live in (at a fraction of the cost). We want to avoid paying the capital gains tax of 18%. Any ideas how we can get around this or do we have to move back into our flat in London initially?Thank you.

If it was your main residence at some point in the last three years I believe you don't pay CGT. You can find lots of guidance on the HMRC website, and if you need further advice you can look for a tax accountant.

The rules have changed so you only get the extra exemption for principal private residence relief for the final 18 months of ownership rather than 3 years. You should get lettings relief as well from what you've said. Coupled with your original occupation period this may well bring the taxable gain down to nil, or within your annual capital gains tax allowances. Any good accountant will be able to run the sums for you.